Like many men whom a perilous adventure or a sudden fate menaces, he was in excellent spirits this morning, and was by no means disposed to listen to the warnings of the solemn-visaged Wuzeer, who was relating all that he and Denzil had overheard in the Mosque of Baber. Captain Mackenzie also stated that there was certainly a plot laid by Ackbar for his destruction; but Macnaghten would listen to neither advice nor remonstrance.
"I must meet him," said he, "and already he and the chiefs are on the ground to consult about whether we shall remain here in peace or retire beyond the Indus; and you will see how I shall snub even such a fellow as Ackbar Khan," he added, lifting his cocked hat and bowing gracefully to the ladies who were gathering in numbers above the rampart of the Siah Sung gate, and all were busy with their opera-glasses, looking towards the east bank of the Cabul river, where, about a quarter of a mile distant, were clustered a group of Afghan horsemen, their brightly coloured flowing dresses and burnished weapons making a brilliant show in the sunshine.
In common with Captain Lawrence and Captain Trevor of the 3rd Light Cavalry, Waller begged the Envoy to consider well these repeated warnings, but the latter only laughed and said,
"Bold as he is—and even in this wild country there is none perhaps bolder—Ackbar dare not molest me."
"Be not over confident, Sir William: remember his remorseless character, and the homicides he has committed."
"I have my pistols."
"So have we all; but consider your wife—consider Lady Macnaghten, if you perish as Sir Alexander Burnes perished!"
Macnaghten's lip quivered slightly, and he glanced to where the row of fair English faces, the flutter of ribbons, veils, and gay bonnets, were all visible above the dark slope of the cantonment wall; but he concealed his rising emotion or anxiety by an angry outburst.
"I do not ask you, Captain Waller, to accompany me; Mackenzie, Lawrence, and Trevor are enough to be in front of the lines, if you think the risk so great."
Waller's open and ruddy countenance lowered and grew pale.